Southland Release

FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls State University senior softball player Ashley Ray added another honor to her celebrated career, being named first-team all-academic as the Southland Conference announced its softball all-academic teams on Thursday.

In addition to all-academic, Ray received second-team All-Southland and NFCA All-Region this season, as well as first-team All-Louisiana.

At the plate, Ray led the Colonels for the second straight season, driving in 29 runs with seven home runs and a .350 batting average. Despite playing only two seasons, Ray leaves the Colonels ranked third in career home runs (24), fifth in batting average (.361) and holds the all-time best slugging percentage (.677).

The all-academic teams are voted on by the head coaches, sports information directors and academic/compliance administrators from each Southland university. Student-athletes must possess a 3.0 cumulative GPA, have completed one full academic year at the nominating institution and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competition to qualify for the all-academic squad.